Retinal Scans Can Detect Diabetes, MS and Dementia Early

retinal scanRetinal scans are proving to be an effective way to detect early signs of diseases like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and dementia. They can sometimes detect disease before symptoms appear. The best news about retinal scans is that they are painless and non-invasive. You may have looked into machines that scan the retina at your optometrist or eye surgeon’s office. Why are retinal scans helpful for detecting diseases that are not, technically, eye diseases? How is the retina connected to the brain and brain health?

How the Retina Works

The eye’s retina is the only part of the central nervous system that can be visually seen without surgical intervention. The retina synapse activity is connected to the visual cortex through the optic nerve, thalamus, and optic radiations. Optic radiations are bundles of nerve fibers in the brain that transmit visual information. They connect the lateral geniculate nucleus in the thalamus, which acts as a relay station, to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe.

The eye develops from the forebrain during the third week of gestation.1 It is physiologically, anatomically, and embryologically similar to the brain in terms of cell types, vasculature, and immune responses. 2

The retina has an extensive array of blood vessels and nerves, so any changes can provide insight into other conditions.

The retina is essentially brain tissue. It is an extension of the central nervous system, so it mirrors the same pathological processes occurring in the brain.

Brain Health, Dementia and the Retina

The retina is considered a unique window into altered brain structure and function 3 4 and brain disorders 5 including Alzheimer’s and 6 7 Parkinson’s disease. 8 It also provides early insight into the risk of stroke, 9 10 cerebral small vessel disease, 11 schizophrenia, 12 and cognitive decline, 13 14 15 as well as heart, kidney, endocrine, and other medical conditions.

In schizophrenia, the retinal neural layers of the eye often become thinner and lose volume. These changes are linked to the progression of the illness, brain volume loss, and cognitive problems. Researchers have also noticed changes in the tiny blood vessels of the retina. Abnormal pupil reactions and damage to corneal nerves are connected to how the brain works and its structure in people with schizophrenia. By studying the eye, scientists can find early signs of cardiovascular, neuroinflammatory, and metabolic diseases in individuals with early psychosis. This research also helps uncover the causes behind many of the vision changes seen in the disorder.16

A study published in the Nature Communications journal examined retinal imaging to detect early signs of systemic diseases.17 A relationship between retinal thinning and cognitive decline was a significant finding. People with thinner retinal nerve fiber layers were significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

In fact, beta-amyloid plaque build-up found in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s Disease can be seen in the retina many years before any symptoms may start to appear.18

Researchers observed individuals with significant neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, as discussed in a number of our prior articles. Retinal thinning was found to have higher markers of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, which are known contributors to cognitive decline.

Screening the retina with artificial intelligence software improves eye doctors’ ability to recognize patterns of microvascular damage with far greater accuracy than standard eye exams, detecting microscopic retinal damage in individuals who have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes.19

Retinal Scans Can Detect Pre-Diabetes/Diabetes

An intricate network of tiny blood vessels brings oxygen and nutrients to the retina. Diabetes and vascular disease lead to oxygen deprivation and tissue damage, which can show up in the retina, even in the early stages. This can lead to diabetic retinopathy. Untreated, this eye disease can lead to rapid vision loss.

Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)

A key symptom of open-angle glaucoma is decreased peripheral vision. However, by the time a person with glaucoma notices, the disease is already progressing. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness, so early detection and treatment are crucial. Risk factors include genetics, heavy use of computers (especially in nearsighted people), diabetes, high blood pressure, severe nearsightedness, and corticosteroids.

Patients who have been diagnosed with glaucoma are at a 46% higher risk20 of developing Alzheimer’s but not Parkinson’s. Women with glaucoma have a greater risk than men, and people over 65 years old have a greater risk than those younger than 65.21

Although some studies with few subjects do not show a connection, a new study with 15,317 subjects in a Taiwan cohort has found that normal- or low-tension glaucoma patients were four times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.22 23

Researchers have found chronic inflammation to be a significant contributing factor to disease onset. The concern is that an inflamed brain and spinal cord can lead to disease in the brain and eyes.

Retinal Scans Can Detect Vascular Disease

Narrowed or damaged blood vessels in your retina often indicate similar issues in the heart and brain, increasing your risk of stroke and heart attack. 24

Changes that can be seen from retinal scans include:

  • Getting an overall view of vascular health, which helps assess current and future risks of heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline.
  • Identifying microscopic vascular damage and neurodegenerative changes that human specialists often miss.
  • Identifying early risk of pre-diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and full metabolic dysfunction years in advance.

Essential Nutrients

Many essential nutrients are needed to support healthy retinal and optic nerve function and overall vision health across the blood-brain barrier. These nutrients are also essential for supporting healthy brain function while significantly reducing the risk of eye and brain disease.

Some of these nutrients include lutein, zeaxanthin, bilberry, glutathione, alpha lipoic acid, taurine, vitamin C, B Vitamins, CoQ10, n-acetyl-cysteine, magnesium, turmeric, omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol, pine bark, ginkgo biloba.

Excellent eye/brain foods include berries such as blueberries and goji berries, pomegranate, mushrooms such as lion’s mane, reishi, and shiitake mushrooms, and plenty of green, leafy vegetables.

Suggested Supplements

Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (whole food) 60 vcaps

Dr. Grossman’s Meso Plus Retinal Support and Computer Eye Strain Formula with Astaxanthin 90 vcaps

Dr. Grossman’s Advanced Eye and Dr. G’s Whole Food Superfood Multi1 20 Vcap Combo – 2 months supply

Retinal Support (wild-crafted herbal formula) 2 oz


Nitric Oxide Supplement – helps promote increased oxygen through the body and eyes.

H2 Elite Molecular Hydrogen 60 tabs

Brain and Memory Power Boost 120 caps

Cognirev Extra Strength 2 oz Oral Spray

Packages


Brain and Memory Support Package 1

AMD Package 1 (3-month supply)


Vascular Support Package 1  (See article)

Sugar Balance & Blood Vessel Support Package 1 (1 month)

 

Recommended Books

Natural Brain Support: Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Other Related Diseases Naturally

Natural Parkinson’s Support: Your Guide to Preventing and Managing Parkinson’s

  1. Bales T.R., Lopez M.J. & Clark J. Embryology, eye. (2019). ↩
  2. Nguyen C.T., Acosta M.L., Di Angelantonio S. & Salt T.E. Seeing Beyond the Eye: The Brain Connection. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 796 (2021). ↩
  3. ibid ↩
  4. Chua S.Y. et al. Relationships between retinal layer thickness and brain volumes in the UK Biobank cohort. European Journal of Neurology 28, 1490–1498 (2021) ↩
  5. London A., Benhar I. & Schwartz M. The retina as a window to the brain—from eye research to CNS disorders. Nature Reviews Neurology 9, 44–53 (2013) ↩
  6. López-de-Eguileta A. et al. The retinal ganglion cell layer reflects neurodegenerative changes in cognitively unimpaired individuals. Alzheimer’s research & therapy 14, 1–13 (2022) ↩
  7. Mutlu U. et al. Association of retinal neurodegeneration on optical coherence tomography with dementia: a population-based study. JAMA neurology 75, 1256–1263 (2018) ↩
  8. Indrieri A., Pizzarelli R., Franco B. & De Leonibus E. Dopamine, alpha-synuclein, and mitochondrial dysfunctions in parkinsonian eyes. Frontiers in Neuroscience 14, 567129 (2020 ↩
  9. Baker M.L., Hand P.J., Wang J.J. & Wong T.Y. Retinal signs and stroke: revisiting the link between the eye and brain. Stroke 39, 1371–1379 (2008) ↩
  10. Ikram M.K., Ong Y.T., Cheung C.Y. & Wong T.Y. Retinal vascular caliber measurements: clinical significance, current knowledge and future perspectives. Ophthalmologica 229, 125–136 (2013) ↩
  11. Langner S.M. et al. Structural retinal changes in cerebral small vessel disease. Scientific Reports 12, 1–10 (2022) ↩
  12. Silverstein S.M., Choi J.J., Green K.M., Bowles-Johnson K.E. & Ramchandran R.S. Schizophrenia in Translation: Why the Eye? Schizophrenia Bulletin (2022). ↩
  13. Ikram M.K., Ong Y.T., Cheung C.Y. & Wong T.Y. Retinal vascular caliber measurements: clinical significance, current knowledge and future perspectives. Ophthalmologica 229, 125–136 (2013) ↩
  14. Liew G. et al. Retinal microvascular signs and cognitive impairment. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 57, 1892–1896 (2009) ↩
  15. Dumitrascu O.M. & Qureshi T.A. Retinal vascular imaging in vascular cognitive impairment: current and future perspectives. Journal of experimental neuroscience 12, 1179069518801291 (2018) ↩
  16.  Schizophr Bull. 2022 May 28;48(4):728–737. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbac050 ↩
  17. Nature Communications Volume 16, Article number: 1317 (2025) ↩
  18. Wang L, Mao X. Role of Retinal Amyloid-β in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Overlapping Mechanisms and Emerging Clinical Applications. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 26;22(5):2360. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052360. PMID: 33653000; PMCID: PMC7956232. ↩
  19. J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14, 690 ↩
  20. Lee CS, Larson EB, Gibbons LE, Lee AY, McCurry SM, et al. (2019). Associations between recent and established ophthalmic conditions and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement.  Jan;15(1)34-41. ↩
  21. Moon JY, Kim HJ, Park YH, Park TW, Park EC, et al. (2018). Association between Open-Angle Glaucoma and the Risks of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases in South Korea: a 10-year Nationwide Cohort Study. Sci Rep. Jul 24;(8)1:11161. ↩
  22. Chen YY, Lai YJ, Yen YF, Shen YC, Wang CY, et al. (2018). Association between normal tension glaucoma and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan. BMJ Open. Nov 5;8(11):e022987. ↩
  23. Giorgio A, Zhang J, Costantino F, De Stanfano N, Frezzotti P. (2018). Diffuse brain damage in normal tension glaucoma. Hum Brain Mapp. Jan;39(1):532-541. ↩
  24. Nature Communications Volume 16, Article number: 1317 (2025) ↩